As you know we don’t mess around when it comes to prizes so we’re adding not one but TWO copies of

This is a tidy little traitor game well worth checking out. I’ve played it a few times and really like it.

Plus of course there’s THIS

MORE TO FOLLOW

SO! how do I get tickets early and beat the rush on the day and benefit from the 2 for 1 offer before the Friday before the Knavecon? Well because I like you so much I’ve made it simple just paypal my Swiss bank account at

victorgannon@yahoo.com

Prices are currently

2 x raffle tickets for €1

20 x raffle tickets for €7

50 x raffle tickets for €12

100 x raffle tickets for €20

Larger quantities can be arranged if you have a problem

Should you feel inclined, feel free to pre-book your tickets for the event too. Tickets will be available on the door on the day as usual. It’s going to be a busy con!

Once again the mighty Knavecon Buy and Sell will be front and centre at Knavecon 11

Bring your heaving sweating masses of games you no longer what and sell them to some other fine game enthusiast. Remember one gamer’s junk is another’s Gold.

Rumour has it (one I just made up) there will be some impressive stuff on offer on the 7th April. Start rummaging through your collection and drag out that game you never play (there’s a reason you never played it) and get down to the biggest gaming buy and sell yet.

I’m delighted to announce the Knavecon 11 grande raffle, rather than faff about here’s the first item, the out of print and hard to get

Chaos in the old world – Still in Shrink (bonus contains 9 year old unsullied air)

MORE TO FOLLOW

SO! how do I get tickets early and beat the rush on the day and benefit from the 2 for 1 offer before the Friday before the Knavecon? Well because I like you so much I’ve made it simple just paypal my Swiss bank account at

victorgannon@yahoo.com

Prices are currently

2 x raffle tickets for €1

20 x raffle tickets for €7

50 x raffle tickets for €12

100 x raffle tickets for €20

Larger quantities can be arranged if you have a problem

Should you feel inclined, feel free to pre-book your tickets for the event too. Tickets will be available on the door on the day as usual. It’s going to be a busy con!

What a year 2017 was for gaming. Two of the best Knavecons yet. A magnificent Knavecon on tour to the uk games expo. So many new games played. So many new sets of rules learned*. A new podcast launched “the generic boardgaming podcast”. Damn you 2017 for setting the bar so high. Just going to have to outdo it in 2018!

So for those who follow this blog you’ll have noticed I haven’t posted a whole lot in the last few weeks. That’s because I’ve been working on something completely different. And now it’s time for the big reveal

I had high hopes for Jamaica. I figured it would be at least as good as Pirates cove…. for sale in perfect condition Jamaica.

It’s very easy to describe a game as a kids game If it’s a bit simplistic. We do children a disservice if we do that. There are plenty of games out there that are perfect for kids but are equally good for adults. Jamaica isn’t one of them or if it is it will be short lived.

Jamaica is a lite race game where up to six players race pirate ships around the outside of the eponymous island. Each turn the first player (who cycles around each turn) rolls two dice and places them in the night and day section in the centre of the map. Players then in order pick one of their three drawn cards and activate their day and night action.

Actions can be move, increase food or increase gun powder. The amount they add is dictated by the night and day dice results so the first player has an advantage over the other stooges. The sizzle here is you only have five holds and you have to put the haul in it’s entirety into an empty hold or chuck overboard a hold’s content to make room. I can only assume this is to comply with health and safety Pirate code.

Moving to any spot on the map costs resources so landing in the open sea burns food, harbours gold and the occasional free pirates den gives you bonus treasure if you’re the first to arrive. If you land in a square and can’t pay the cost you stick on the hazards and reverse back square by square until you can.

Combat occurs no if buts or maybes If you move into a space containing another ship. Both pirates decide in advance how many plus ones to add to the dice by burning gunpowder tokens then add them to a d10 roll. Defender does likewise. Highest value wins. The map contains a couple of treasure cards that grant overly powerful reroll abilities, extra cargo space, hand size and pluses onto combat rolls along with plus and minus points at the end. The whole thing rattled on until someone passes the finish line then everyone freezes and scores bonus points for being close to or over the line.

The game is nicely produced. Colorful cartoony graphics, decent pieces and card stock. Good solid board and nice box inlay.

The problem with this game is it’s just too random. There’s no possible strategy and very limited options. I’m not against random in games but in this case you could save yourself an hour and just roll a dice each to decide the winner. Battles are hit and miss (ho ho). You could be lucky and get around the board hitting the right resources and spaces a bit like snakes and ladders. It’s crying out for a decent set or advanced rules.

All in all this is a dull affair I was nonplussed and don’t be shocked to see if for sale at the next Knavecon because you know it’s a wonderful game well worth buying

Cthulhu is the boy band of gaming. Add him (him?) to any game and it will sell like hot cakes.

Lovecraft letter is yet another flavor of love letter, the original small footprint card game. It’s a lavish production very similar to love letter deluxe edition. The game is beautifully produced, features oversized cards with natty card sleeves and a nice furry insert (oh err missus) and decent poke chip pieces. Art work is good and the even the box it comes in is swanky. That’s the good bit

The game allows up to eight which is neat and adds an insanity Cthulhu mechanic where you can use the more powerful insane action on some cards but risk an early shower for messing with powers man shouldn’t mess with because you know, the whole early shower thing. The insanity mechanic however Is weak sauce. It makes winning a hit and miss affair

Cards on the table? (Hi ho) this game is nothing new. It’s like a version 1.2 of the original. If you have the base game or one of it’s many skinned twins you don’t really need this unless you’re a precious fan I wanted to like the game. I figured there was a little bit more depth in here but what there is is more luck in a game that’s already luck rich and way too much sudden death. I’m a big fan of love letter. If you don’t owe it it’s well worth getting. If you want to play it with eight players and don’t have the original then go for it. It’s a looker but it’s all show and pricey. Move along. Nothing to see here